Burial apparatus.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

W. O. CANOUTS. BURIAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1904.

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W. O. OANOUTS.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1904.

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jwvewtoz nuu uvuvd UNITED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

PATENT A NICE.

IYILLIS O. CANOUTS, OF CRYSTAL, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DURFEEEMBALMING- FLUID COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 782,189, dated February'7, 1905.

Application filed February 23,1904. Serial N0.194,973.

In a]! whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, W Inns 0. CANOUTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crystal. in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Apparatus;and I do'hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in burial apparatus; and its objectis to provide a device adjustable to various dimensions, that can betaken apart and packed compactly in a case, that is light and strong,that is of cheap and durable construction, and to provide the same withvarious new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

My device consists, essentially, of the combination and arrangement oflongitudinallyextensible telescopic tubes coupled together and mountedin end frames, also made telescopic and adjustable, improved brakemechanism, means for connecting the respective tubes to rotate the samesimultaneously, automatic means for releasing the straps from thecasket, and in the various features of construction and arrangement, aswill more fully appear by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure I is a plan view of a device embody ing my invention; Fig.2, a vertical section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. I; Fig. 3, anend elevation of the same; Fig. I, a vertical section on the line I A ofFigs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5, an elevation of the inner side of one end; Fig.6, a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Figs. 3 and at; Fig. 7, atransverse section on the line 7 T of Fig. 5; Fig. 8, the same on theline 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a sectional detail on the line 9 9 of Figs.1, 2, and 6; Fig. 10, a detail of the brake-key; Fig. 11, a detail ofthe winding-lever, and Fig. 12 a detail of the automatically-detachablehooks.

Like letters refer to like parts in all of the figures.

and B B represent the respective ends of the frame, which for strengthand lightness are made, preferably, of sheet metal and rectangular incross-section, the outer portion having its edges folded over the edgesof the inner portion to form ways for the inner portion, which isslidable within the outer portion to extend the width of the frame asoccasion may require. The inner portion of each end of the frame isprovided with a series of openings C and the outer portion with alocking-pin C to engage said openings and retain the frame in adjustedposition. The sides of the frame are journaled in the ends and consistof telescopic tubes upon which are wound the straps H, which straps areconnected at their adjacent ends by detachable fastening-s I and adaptedto the purposeof low ering'the casket. Each of these sides of the framesconsists of two tubes 1) I), each tube having a longitudinal slot D.Slidablc with in the tubes 1) are tubes It, adapted to project more orless from the tubes 1.) and provided with keys It, engaging the slotsI), to prevent rotation of the tubes E within the tubes 1). The adjacentends of the tubes E are detachably coupled to each other and held inalinement by means of an inner section G, extending within the adjacentends of the tubes E and having bayonet-slots G to engage a transversepin (r in one of the tubes I To facilitate the witlulrawal of the tubesE from the tube 1 a link T is provided within the section (i and securedtherein by a pin S. This link will traverse said pin,and thus move outof the way of the pin G when the tubes E are coupled, and willproject'from the end of the section (it to afford a suitable means forwitluh'awing the tube E from the tube I) as occasion requires.

F is a journal-bearing adapted to be inserted in an opening in asuitable block 15 in the end of the frame B B and is detachalgilyretained therein by means of a suitable pin B", partially within saidopening and engaging a groove F in the bearing F.

The straps H for lowering the casket are connected at their adjacentends by suitable detachable hooks and eyes I, and each hook is providedwith an oppositely-inclined end extension I, so that when thesefastenings drop loosely upon the bottom of the box the eye I will fallopposite this inclined end, and thus be readily detached from the hook.To bring the hook and eye in substantially the same plane, the eye isoffset downward, as shown, about the thickness of the plate of which itis made. To adapt the hooks to the limited space below the casket whenlowered and to avoid projecting parts to catch on the drapery of acasket, these hooks and eyes are made of sheet metal and stamped intothe required shape.

To support the sides of the frame and to connect them to the end A A ofthe frame, short shafts J and K are journaled in said end, and eachshaft is provided with a projecting end to fit within the end of thetube E and provided with a transverse slot, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, and9, and the tube is provided with a transverse pin J to engage said slotand prevent the tube from turning on the shaft, and to secure the tubein place a pin J is provided, which is attached to a spring on the sideof the tube and projects through the tube and within an opening in theside of the shaft. To connect the tubes at each side and cause them tounwind the straps H simultaneously, each shaft J and K is provided witha suitable drum M, and on the respective drums is oppositely wound asuitable strap or tape N, whereby the tendency of the tubes to turntoward each other at their upper side is limited by the unwinding ofthis strap from one drum and the winding of the same upon the otherdrum, so that the tubes turn simultaneously.

To regulate the lowering of the casket, a suitable friction-brake isprovided upon the inner end of the shaft K, consisting of a suitableband L, preferably of flexible steel, surrounding and engaging afriction-pulley K on the inner end of the shaft K, said band L havingone end attached to a bracket L, fixed on the frame A, and the other endadjustable by means of a screw L, extending through the bracket andengaging a screw-threaded opening in the movable end of the strap. Thisscrew is also provided with a suitable socket in which is inserted a keyP (shown in Fig. 10) and having a squared end for adjusting the screw toadjust the friction of the brake and regulate the lowering of thecasket. The outer end of the shaft K is provided with a central openingand a ratchet-wheel K, and a suitable lever O is provided with a pin Rto enter the opening in the shaft and rotate therein and a spring-pawl Qto engage the ratchet, whereby the shaft may be rotated to wind up thestraps H and N as occasion may require.

U is a friction-flange on the shaftJ. V is a washer opposite the flangeU, and W a thumbscrew extending through thewasher and into the shaft J,whereby the friction of the flange casket.

will resist the turning of the shaft J, and thus take up and hold theslack of the strap N as occasion may require. This screw is preferably aleft-hand screw, so that it will be antomatically released when thestraps H are unwound.

The casket supported on the straps H tends to turn the tubes D towardeach other at their upper side. The brake retards the tube to which itis directly attached to turn slowly,

and the strap N serves to hold the opposite tube D to turn at the samerate as the strap N unwinds from the drum on the shaft K and winds uponthe drum of the shaft J. When the projection I on the hook I strikes thebottom of the box in which the casket is deposited, the slack of thestraps H will permit the eye I" to drop down opposite the inclined end Iof the hook. The hook and eye will then be readily detached by pullingon the straps H,

and thus the straps will be released from the To adjust the device to adifferent size of casket, it is only necessary to slide the tubes Ewithin the tubes D to change the length, which change will also adjustthe respective pairs of straps H at greater or less distance from eachother, and to adjust the device for width the pins C are withdrawn fromthe opening C, and the ends of the frame can then be extended or reducedby sliding one 5 part of the same within the other.

When out of use, the device can be taken apart and packed within a boxof about the length of one of the tubes D. The device is readily takenapart and reassembled. The en- I00 tire structure being of tubes andsheet metal in tubular form, it is very strong and light, which is ofgreat advantage in the matter of packing and transportation.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burial apparatus, a frame comprising sheet-metal end portionsrectangular in crosssection and havingtwo parts, the edges of one partbeing folded over the edges of the other part, means for holding thesame in adjustment, and longitudinally-adjustable side portionsjournaled in the end portions.

2. In a burial apparatus, a frame comprising I 5 rectangular endportions, outer tubular side portions journaled in the end portions andhaving longitudinal slots, inner extensions slidable in the outer sideportions, and keys in the extensions and engaging and traversingtheslots. 1 2O able pins partially within said openings and 5 engaging saidgrooves.

4. In a burial apparatus, a frame comprising an end portion havingopenings, tubular side portions, journal-bearings on one end of the sideportions and inserted in the said openings 3 and also provided withgrooves, pins engaging said grooves, a second end portion, shaftsjournaled in the same, and detachably inserted in the other ends of theside portions, and spring-retained pins inserted in lateral openings insaid shafts.

In a burial apparatus, aframe comprisingend portions, tubular sideportions journaled in one of the end portions at one end, shaftsjournaled in the otherend portion and inserted in the other ends of theside portions and also having transverse slots and lateral openings,transverse pins in the side portions and engaging the slots andspring-retained pins engaging the lateral openings.

6. In a burial apparatus, a. frame com prising an extensible end portionhaving openings near its ends, tubular side portions journaled in saidopenings and having longitudinal slots, inner tubes slidable in the sideportions, keys in the inner tubes and engaging the slots, a secondextensible end portion, shafts journaled in the same, tubular sideportions attached to the shafts at one end and attached to the saidinner tube at the other end.

T. In a burial apparatus, an extensible side to the frame comprising twoouter tubes having longitudinal slots, two inner tubes slidable in theouter tubes, keys in the inncr tubes and traversing the slots, and meansfor attaching the inner tubes to each other.

b. In a burial apparatus, an extensible side to the frame comprising twoouter tubes haviug longitudinal slots, means for connecting the outerends of the said tubes with the ends of the frame, inner tubes slidablein the outer tubes and projecting therefrom, keys in the inner tubes andengaging the slots, a connecting member attached to one of the innertubes and inserted in the other inner tube and provided with abayonet-slot, and a transverse pin in the inner tube and engaging thebayonet-slot.

9. In a burial apparatus, an extension side to the frame consisting oftwo outer tubes, two inner tubes slidable and non rotative therein. acoupling-tube attached to one of the inner tubes and adapted to beinserted in the other inner tube, a link in the couplingtube and atransverse pin within the link.

14). In a burial apparatus, a frame comprising longitudinally-adjustablcends, longitudinally-zuljustable sides journaled in said ends, strapswound on the respective sides and detachably connected to each other, abrake to control one of said sides, a drum connected to each side, and astrap wound oppositely at its respective ends upon the respective drums.

1 l. The combination of two longitudinallyadjustable ends, outer tubesdetachably journaled in one of said ends and having longitudinal slots,two shafts journaled in the other i end, outer tubes detachably attachedto the said shafts and having longitudinal slots, an inner tube slidablein each outer tube, keys in the inner tubes and traversing the slots,means for coupling-the abutting ends of the inner tubes to each other,straps wound on the respective outer tubes and detachably connected toeach other in pairs, a drum on each shaft, a tape wound oppositely onthe respective drums, and a brake to control one of the shafts.

12. In a burial apparatus, a frame end, a shaft journaled in the frameend, a frictionsurface on the shaft, an adjustable brake-band engagingthe said surface, a second shaft journaled in the frame, rotative sidesto the frame and attached to the respective shafts, straps wound on thesides and detachabl y connected to each other, and a strap woundoppositely on the respective shafts at its respective ends.

13. In a burial apparatus, a frame, an extensible end to the frame, ashaft journaled in the same, a friction-surface on the shaft, anadjustable band engaging the said surface, a second shaft journalcd inthe said end, a friction-flange on the said shaft, means for forcing theflange against the frame,a drum on each shaft, a strap wound oppositelyon the respective drums and means for attaching the respective sides ofthe frame to the respective shafts.

H. In a burial apparatus, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame andhaving an axial opening, a friction -surface and a ratchetwheel on theshaft, an adjustable band engaging said surface, a lever, a pin and pawlon the lever to engage said opening and ratchet, a second shaftjournalcd in the frame, a friction-flange on said second shaft andengaging the side of the frame, a screw in the end of the said secondshaft, a drum on each shaft, and a strap wound oppositely on therespective drums at its respective ends.

15. In a burial apparatus, a knockdown and adjustable frame comprisingtelescopic and rectangular ends, one of the same having openings forjournals and movable pins partially within said openings, shaftsjournaled in the other end and having attached a brake and means forsimultaneous rotation of said shafts, telescopic sides to the frameconsisting of four outer tubes havinglongitudinal slots, four innertubes slidable in the outer tubes, keys in the inner tubes andtraversing the slots, coupling members in two of the inner tubes andhaving bayonetslots, pins in the other inner tubes and engaging saidslots, journals on two of the outer tubes detachably inserted in saidopening and having grooves engaged by said pins, and means for attachingthe other two outer tubesito the said shafts.

1b. In a burial apparatus, two sheet-metal and telescopic ends, openingsand movable pins in one end, two shafts journaled in the other end andhaving transverse slots and side openings, a friction-surface on oneshaft, a friction-flange on the other shaft, an adjust- IIO &

able band engaging the friction-surface, a screw opposite thefriction-flange, a strap oppositely wound on the respective shafts, fourouter tubes having longitudinal slots, straps Wound on said tubes, meansfor detachably connecting the ends of the opposite straps, four innertubes slidable in the outer tubes, keys inthe inner tubes and traversingthe slots, coupling members attached to two of the inner tubes,bayonet-slots in said members, pins in the other two inner tubes andengaging said slots, journals on the ends of the two outer tubes andhaving grooves engaged by said pins, transverse pins in the other outertubes and engaging the transverse slots in the 5 \VILLIS O. GANOUTS.

WVitnesses:

LUTHER V. MOULTON, GEORGIANA GHAoE.

